Rummell: One Spark is not a 'turning point' for Downtown Jacksonville

[I-10east]

^^^Blah blah blah....

[Cheshire Cat]

What Rummell said is what guys like him have been saying for a long time and his ideas about money, incentives and the like are still missing the point as is much of the previous conversation.  The changes that need to come in Jacksonville, brick and mortar stuff are going to take a long time and begin at the level of local political leadership and the dysfunction of local government.  Changing who is in office and how they get there in Jacksonville is the key, not incentives.  Until that changes we are going to get overblown courthouses, city owned white elephant parking lots, jumbo trons,  rogue department leadership like that of Kim Scott and guys like Rummell who buy mayors like Alvin Brown who has done nothing of import for our city save hire a full time photographer and give out awards. 

[JeffreyS]

I think the advertising the event gives DT is beneficial.

[I-10east]

Of course you do.  What Rummell said was absolutely correct, no matter how much you disagree. 

It would really help if you would simply say your opinion and move along, without beefing with others. You're not gonna change my mind, and vice-versa, so why insist on acting like a troll just because I'm not Mr Negative like you? Now if I'm wrong about a FACT, feel free to correct me, but to think that everyone has to agree with your opinions is insanely childish. You act like I was the only one with that opinion...I'm I a lightning rod of haterism or something? Here's to having opinions in the Free World....

[Cheshire Cat]

^and that kind of tit for tat is why I haven't posted in a long time.  It really is a disservice to the issues under discussion to have the conversation derailed with personal sparring. imo I had hoped that had changed.

[ronchamblin]

It is so good to see you back CC.  Hell, I was checking the inmate listings at JSO.

But ... focusing on Dt revitalization .... Usually, if a group has before them a difficult problem, they begin to assess what is known about it, and if little is known other than the fact that the attempt as solution has failed, they experiment with different actions ... anything ...  which might give progress toward solution.

Events like Art Walk, the Jazz Festival, and One Spark, and even the food truck initiative -- although perhaps beginning somewhat as experiments, have certainly prepared the core for progress toward revitalization, as they remind outsiders of what exists in the core, and therefore what does not exist, thus giving perhaps hints of potential to those who might have a desire to move into the core as residents, or to those who might have a viable business plan which could survive in the current limited foot traffic in the core.

While progress has been made in initiating events for the DT core -- and the value of these events cannot be underestimated -- there has been a lack of enabling, marketing, and encouragement for new residents, workers, and businesses for the core -- why is this so .... or does it seem to be so?     

I agree totally with mtraininjax when he conveys the importance of increasing the number of residents in the core, as these residents will draw and support new businesses, and add to the momentum toward revitalization.  But we should also attempt, by whatever means, to bring businesses into the core.  Each DT core building or space currently vacant, once filled, will be a solid step toward the goal of revitalization. 

In my opinion the gain in building occupancy is "the" key to measuring progress toward revitalization.  Nothing significant happens until a vacant building is filled, until another building is "occupied".   

As Stephen says, and most certainly realize, the success of One Spark should not allow us to declare victory regarding a big push toward sustained vibrancy ..... far from it.  We must recognize One Spark for what it is, an exciting event drawing a huge temporary population into the DT core -- an event offering an environment where new and exciting ideas can be shown, and some matched to funding -- an event which hopefully can be repeated and honed to become much greater than what we can imagine in this early stage.

[Cheshire Cat]

I think the advertising the event gives DT is beneficial.

It's a marketing bonanza.  This event has done wonderful things for Jacksonville, the most important to my eye is showing the world that we have creative/edgy and inspiring things happening in Jacksonville.  The big bonus is that that appeal goes across the boundaries of race, age and wealth.  Doesn't get much better than that when it comes to "sparking" good things. 

[mtraininjax]

not true.  I know many people who live downtown that won't step one foot into the Landing.  The fact is the place is tired and Sleiman has done little to renovate the space, and in fact has made some decisions (Rush Street anyone) that have actually hurt the center's reputation.

The place is tired because he can't get high end merchants in the place because there are not enough people to support a higher end shop. What he has there is par for the people who visit the landing and are there on a regular basis. Maverick's, Hooters, Chicago Pizza, they are there and succeed because of the people who go there.

Add more people downtown who demand better, you get better.  He is a great master at getting events down there and he sells what people demand in and around the Landing. Like it or not, its the downtown you have now, until you build and add more residents. It does get supported without the "people" you speak of....

[mtraininjax]

guys like Rummell who buy mayors like Alvin Brown who has done nothing of import for our city save hire a full time photographer and give out awards.

+10000000

[Cheshire Cat]

Thanks Ron.  One Spark was victorious in meeting their agenda, which was crowd funding new entrepreneurs in their four target categories.  Why anyone thinks that the success of this event should be a measure for the continued revitalization for downtown is a mystery really.  It was a second time event that did a world of good for our feeling towards our own community. I can only imagine that this idea of an "event" in downtown translating to a lasting economic change is leftovers from the meme that the Super Bowl would change downtown.  It didn't and the real and lasting changes will come in increments and be born by organic change at the level of leadership, Jacksonville self image and how excited we remain about our future. 

[Intuition Ale Works]

guys like Rummell who buy mayors like Alvin Brown who has done nothing of import for our city save hire a full time photographer and give out awards.

+10000000

Are you serious?

[Cheshire Cat]

guys like Rummell who buy mayors like Alvin Brown who has done nothing of import for our city save hire a full time photographer and give out awards.

+10000000

Are you serious?

Not answering here for MTrain, but the quote above he responded to was mainly about money buying influence via political office and how that can impact the type of leadership we have. In this case mayor Alvin Brown who is all show but completely lacking in the leadership necessary to take our city forward. imo  As far as One Spark goes, I am sure Rummells money had a positive impact, but to my view does not make him the go to guy on the future of Downtown Jacksonville.  He is one of the old guard and we see how far we have or have not progressed under that old guard.

[CityLife]

Thread got worthless real quick...

[Cheshire Cat]

Thread got worthless real quick...

Or real depending upon personal perspective. What was not worthless is all of the good that "One Spark" did for Jacksonville, this year and last.

[CityLife]

I'm all about the positive One Spark vibes and constructive suggestions, but there's no need for this to digress into a political discussion about Mayor Brown. Carry on...